Untitled BM Project, 2010

8/8/2019 Untitled BM Project, 2010

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R O R Y S L A S T K I S S

INITIAL DRAFT/1/10-10

Property of Syncopy/WB


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BLACK SCREEN:

JOKER (V.O.)

-It wasn't hard. Madness is likegravity. All it takes is a littlepush-

DENT (V.O.)(furious)

-The Joker chose me!

GORDON (V.O.)Everything dies with Harvey'sreputation-

BATMAN (V.O.)They can never know-

GORDON (V.O.)-A hero. Nothing less than awhite knight.

BATMAN (V.O.)You'll hunt me.

JOKER (V.O.)To them, youre just a freak.Like me!

GORDON (V.O.)They'll hunt you.

JAMES (V.O.)Why's he running, Dad?

GORDON (V.O.)Because...

(a pause)


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GORDON (V.O.)(CONT'D)Because we have to chase him.Hes the hero Gotham deserves

a silent guardian, a watchfulprotector... a dark knight.

CUTTO:

INT. MASTER BEDROOM, WAYNE MANOR - DAY

Eyes OPEN. BRUCE WAYNE. He pauses for a moment as he STARES atthe ceiling. Unkempt. Bruce sports a thick beard much like hedid with his time in Bhutan.

SUPERIMPOSE TITLE: THREE YEARS LATER.

He REACHES towards his nightstand. The remote. PICKS IT UP andCLICKS on the large television to the opposite end. Above theTV, we see a FRAMED PICTURE of Harvey Dent and Rachel Dawesopposite a FRAMED PICTURE of Bruce's parents.

On the TV, Morning News in Gotham City. A female NEWSCASTERappears onscreen.

NEWSCASTERWhere is the Batman? That's the

discussion for today's panel.

With me in Washington is Dan

Davids; and here in the studio we

have Arthur Clark and Juan Artest

from Gotham Times and NPR,

respectively.

Bruce SITS UP.

NEWSCASTER (O.S.)(CONT'D)

Gentlemen, good to have you.

DAN DAVIDS (O.S.)

Thanks Jean.


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ARTHUR CLARK (O.S.)

Good to be here.

JUAN ARTEST (O.S.)Mornin' Jean.

JEAN (O.S.)

Let's jump right in: Batman...

Where is he? Dan in Washington.

DAN

In hiding, of course. Without

addressing the myriad of crimes

then DA Harvey Dent could have

charged him with, witnesses andcorroborating evidence all

conclude Batman was responsible

for at least five deaths in the

infamous Joker Upheaval not three

years ago.

JEAN

Is conclude too strong? Arthur?

ARTHUR

As a former defense attorney, Iwant to say yes. But the evidence

is overwhelming. Commissioner

Gordon some say the last great

cop of Gotham vows Dent's

vengeance. Strong words from an

honest man. If Batman's still in

the city, he's nowhere near the

Bat-cave-

ALFRED (O.S.)-Batcave. That's not bad, MasterWayne.

Alfred STANDS at the door-frame, HOLDING a tray for breakfast orange juice, coffee, and oatmeal.


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BRUCEHow many times do I have to askyou to stop with the breakfast?

JUAN (O.S.)

I agree, Jean. There's a reason

Gotham hasn't seen or heard from

him in years. Years. If that's

not a suggestion of guilt, I don't

know what is.

ALFREDA creature of habit, Master Wayne.

JEAN (O.S.)Interestingly enough, crime rates

have risen exponentially since--

BRUCE-Creature of something, that's forsure.

Alfred MOVES towards the bed, SETTING the tray on the adjacenttable. He GLANCES the television's topic a banner readingWHERE IS THE BATMAN?

ALFREDI suppose the collateral benefitof all this is you no longer havecopycats.

BRUCEThey seemed to have fled en masse,didn't they?

ALFREDThe Jokers lasting legacy. 'CeptI suppose they still are copycats.What with your self-imposed exile.

Bruce RISES from bed. Shirtless. Theres something differentabout him. He's not as fit as he used to be. He still retains


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ties.

In all, fifteen members are present. On the other end of the

table, with documents SPREAD, are TWO BLACK SUITS and a FEMALELAWYER. Between the suits and the lawyer, an EMPTY SEAT. Theparties awkwardly force the smallest of talk waiting for Bruce.

WILBERTSome weather we have.

FEMALE LAWYERIt certainly looks like rain.

A throat CLEARS as we-

CUTTO:

INT. LOBBY, WAYNE ENTERPRISES - DAY

Bruce WAITS for an elevator. A few people recognize him.

SECURITY GUARDMr. Wayne.

Bruce NODS.

CLERK (O.S.)Hello, Mr. Wayne.

The elevator DINGS. Ground floor. The doors OPEN.

Bruce STEPS in. TWO MEN follow him.

The doors start TO CLOSE-

MAN (O.S.)-Hold that!

Bruce HITS the door open-button.


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The man from the limo STEPS IN. WILLIAM EARLE.

EARLE

Hello, Bruce.

BRUCE(surprised)

Mr. Earle (to man in front of Earle)

-One hundred, please.

The man hits button 6 and then hits button 100. He LOOKS atEarle.

EARLEThe same, actually.

Bruce DARTS a look at Earle. The elevator reaches the sixthfloor.

The doors OPEN.

VOICE (O.S.)

Sixth Floor, Wayne Enterprises

Compliance and Regulatory.

The two men in front EXIT.

The doors CLOSE. Earle and Bruce remain.

EARLE(slyly)

I'm sure you're left wonderingwhat's going on. Perhaps eventhinking of firing yet anotherpresident.

BRUCEI didn't fire Lucius.


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EARLEOh, that's right. He quit, didn'the. Pity. The man was excellent

at what he did.

BRUCEWhat do I owe the pleasure, Mr.Earle?

EARLEI was asked here by Wilbert.

BRUCEI wasn't told.

EARLEI know you run a tight ship. LikeI said, perhaps you're thinkingof firing yet another president.

The elevator STOPS.

VOICE (O.S.)

One hundredth floor, Wayne

Enterprises Executive Suite.

Bruce EXITS first to-

INT. LOBBY TO BOARDROOM, WAYNE ENTERPRISES - DAY

BRUCEI didn't fire you, Mr. Earle. Youfired yourself.

An assistant WAITS in the lobby of the boardroom.

ASSISTANTMr. Wayne, they're waiting foryou.

BRUCEThank you.


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Bruce keeps WALKING. Mr. Earle checks-in with the FRONT DESKATTENDANT.

As Bruce WALKS towards the doors-

EARLE (O.S.)Yes, William Earle for WilbertKane.

ATTENDANT (O.S.)I believe Mr. Kane is waitingfor you in-

INT. BOARDROOM, WAYNE ENTERPRISES - DAY

The doors OPEN and we have Bruce's POV. Everyone is waiting.Wilbert STANDS UP and WALKS towards Bruce.

WILBERTGood morning, Mr. Wayne.

BRUCEWhat's going on, Mr. Kane?

They meet and SHAKE hands. It's an intimate, but rapidconversation.

WILBERTIt's the people from the S.E.C.,Bruce.

BRUCENo advanced warning?

WILBERTThey announced their intentionsweeks ago. A memo circulated. I'mcertain I sent it to you.

BRUCEWhat do they want?


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WILBERTThat's why I invited-

EARLE (O.S.)-Wilbert Kane, how are ya?

Earle WALKS through the door. Wilbert flashes him a smile.

WILBERT(to Bruce)

-William. He used to be a SectionChief at the S.E.C.

EARLE(approaching)

This board certainly looks likeit missed me.

Earle EXTENDS his hand towards Wilbert.

They SHAKE.

WILBERTMorning, William. It's good to

see you.

EARLELikewise.

The three men form a triumverate, quietly talking in spite ofthe remaining Board.

WILBERTSo what is this, William?

EARLEIt's a routine preliminaryinvestigation. This is acourtesy. A kind-of prep yourshareholders-meeting.


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BRUCEOur filings are accurate. Ontime.

EARLEUnder Sarbanes-Oxley and theSecurities Exchange Act, theS.E.C. is entitled to conductoversight on anypublicly-tradedcompany. With-

WILBERT-This is hogwash-

EARLE-Or without cause.

FEMALE LAWYER (O.S.)Gentlemen.

WILBERTYes, yes. Ready to start?

FEMALE LAWYERMy boss will arrive shortly.

The men TAKE THEIR SEATS. And wait.

We DOLLY around the room. First, Bruce. Still bearded andunkempt. Then Wilbert. Nervous. Lastly, Earle. SMIRKING.

The doors OPEN.

A man ENTERS. Tall. Thin. He moves like an eel and talks like acar salesman. This is EVAN NILES IGMA.

EVANMorning, Gentlemen. Ladies.How is everyone?

Wilbert WALKS to meet Evan. Bruce TRAILS him.


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WILBERTHow are you? Wilbert Kane.

They SHAKE HANDS.

EVANEvan Igma. Nice to meet you.

WILBERTMr. Igma, Id like to introduceyou to-

BRUCE-Bruce Wayne.

Bruce EXTENDS his hand. Evan TAKES IT.

EVANPleasure to meet you. But Please,call me Evan. Id like tointroduce my right hand-man,so to speak, Gloria Dixon.

The female attorney of before. She WALKS over to shake hands.

First, Wilberts.

GLORIAPleasure.

Wilbert SMILES. Then, Bruces.

GLORIA (CONT'D)Pleased to finally meet you.

Bruce LOOKS at her.

(a beat)

BRUCELikewise.


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An initial attraction.

Evan CLASPS his hands together - now that the Board has been

sitting there seemingly forgotten.

EVANWelp, we ready?

They all TAKE THEIR SEATS. Evan PICKS UP a stack of coveredbindings and SETS them on the table.

EVAN(to Suits)

Could you?

The Suits take half of each and start PASSING OUT individualpackets to each board member.

EVAN (CONT'D)Board of Directors; PresidentKane, and Mr. Wayne what isbeing passed to you is theS.E.C.s market findingsunderlying this investigation. AsDirector of Market Intelligence, I

am tasked to investigate andrespond to any anomalies thatoccur with any publicly-tradedcompany. Youll also find ourrelevant authority statutoryand administrative as well asthe Executive Order authorizingthe S.E.C. to use subpoena-powerto compel any and all production-

WILBERT-Im sorry what is this allabout?

EVANI am not at liberty to discuss, atthis stage, the merits. What I can


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tell you is that Wayne Enterprisesis a major recipient of governmentcontracts, and as one of the few

dominant companies to weather theRecession of 2008, a little alarmsent some bureaucrats in Washingtonin a tizzy since there was no formalrequest for assistance.

WILBERTYes, yes, we mortgaged our assetsand rode out the market volatility.

GLORIA

Be that as it may. But a massivesale of mortgage-based securitiesby Wayne Enterprises preceded theHousing Burst. The S.E.C. has aduty to investigate any and allvestiges of wrongdoing.

EVANInflation in Gotham spikedlikeweve never seen around that time.

BRUCE (O.S.)A half a billion dollars wasfound burnt to a crisp not threemiles from here.

An awkward SILENCE.

A board member SHUFFLES some papers.

BOARD MEMBERHow long will this take?

EVANAs long as it takes for the S.E.C.to be confident in WayneEnterprises.


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GLORIAIn the interim, pastinvestigations have suggested an

average drop of ten to twentypercent in per annum share value.The S.E.C. plays these close tothe chest until we know more.Theres no reason to alarm yourshareholders yet.

The words subtlety settles in were not rushing to tellanyone so you shouldnt either as we TRACK from behind Bruce.On his notepad, he has written:

EVAN IGMA

With a BLACK CIRCLE around his name.

EVANIndeed. Consider this like anaudit. At the end, and I haveevery confidence in this Board,things will probably be exemplary.

Bruce LOOKS at Evan.

EVAN (CONTD)As they say, that which flieswithout wings is all we need atthis point.

NOTE: No EXPRESS RIDDLES from Evan's character.

Bruce WRITES Time in his pad as Evan finishes up.

EVAN (CONTD)You may contact me at the numberon my card with any inquiries.

Evan starts PASSING cards to his left and to his right. On thefront, it reads:


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E.N. IGMA DIRECTOR OF MARKET INTELLIGENCESECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION13 ZENO WAY

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20001555.423.3249;

P.O. BOX 101GOTHAM CITY, GOTHAM 84734555.898.7760

On the back: simply a ?. Evan, Gloria, and the two Suits beginPACKING their things.

BOARD MEMBER TWO

Whats with the question mark?

The five have TURNED to exit.

Evan TURNS back-

EVANYoull figure it out, Im sure.It was nice meeting you all.

He TURNS to LEAVE but not before-

EVAN (CONTD)Gloria and a few agents will beback tomorrow. If youd be so kindto designate some workspace, wedcertainly appreciate it.

Wilbert RISES. As does Bruce and the Board.

WILBERTAbsolutely! Well leave theinformation in the lobby.

EVANPlease, please, sit down. Thatdbe perfect. Good day, folks.


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A few take cares and bye nows emerge from the Board.

FOCUS ON Business Card in Bruces hand E.N. IGMA as we-

CUTTO:

EXT. GOTHAM PRISON - DAY

Est. shot. A sign in the front reads GOTHAM MAXIMUM SECURITYFACILITY.

GORDON, now the seasoned Commissioner, PACES towards theentrance. A few cops WALK in the opposite direction.

COPMorning, Commissioner.

GORDONMorning, gentlemen.

He continues onward to-

INT. LOBBY, GOTHAM PRISON - DAY

A check-in counter behind reinforced glass. A CLERK tends tovisitors.

Gordon SITS in the waiting area, PUNCHING buttons into hismobile device.

CLERK (O.S.)Commissioner? Commissioner Gordon?

Gordon HITS send on his phone.

GORDONYeah, coming.

Gordon RISES. WALKS to the counter.


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CLERKShes ready, sir. I just needyou to check your gun and phone.

Gordon UNHOLSTERS his Glock and two magazines. He SLIDES themunderneath the glass. Does the same with his phone.

CLERK(as she writes)

One Handgun. Two Clips. One MobileTelephone. All right, Commissioner,Ill buzz ya in.

GORDON

Thank you.

Gordon WALKS to the door. BUZZ.

He OPENS it.

On the other side, hes FRISKED by a SECURITY GUARD. In thebackground, a sign: ALL VISITORS WILL BE EXPECTED TO EXPOSE OROTHERWISE DISCLOSE THEIR TORSOS PURSUANT TO LOCAL LAW SECTION23.10 AS ADOPTED BY THE GOTHAM GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 2009. FEMALEVISITORS WILL BE PROVIDED A FEMALE GUARD

SECURITY GUARD(while frisking)

Sorry, sir.

GORDONYoure just doing your job.

He finishes the search.

SECURITY GUARDYes, sir. I have to ask you tolift your shirt, sir.

Gordon LIFTS his shirt revealing his torso.


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GORDONYou can never be too careful.

SECURITY GUARD(to Walkie Talkie)

All clear.(to Gordon)

No, sir, you can't.

GORDONTake care.

Gordon WALKS towards a door. It reads VISITING AREA. Door

BUZZES. OPENS it to-

INT. GOTHAM PRISON, VISITING AREA - DAY

Gordon SITS at a table. He nurses a cup of coffee. We notice theother tables have FEMALE PRISONERS visiting with theirBOYFRIENDS, HUSBANDS, and/or MOM/DAD/KIDS.

A BUZZ. The door to the visiting area OPENS.[Former detective]ANNA RAMIREZ. Shes LED IN by an OFFICER.

He ESCORTS her to the table. Gordon RISES. The officer UNCUFFSher hands and WALKS away. Ramirez RUBS her wrists.

Off-screen, a television is set to Morning News in GothamCity. The report is faint but audible.

MORNING NEWS (O.S.)The Arkham Butcher strikes again!

At approximately ten a.m., Gotham

Police responded to a missing

person phone call leading them to

this residence. Once inside,

police made the ghastly discovery.

Ms. Anabeth Gibbons brutally

murdered - her throat slashed from

ear to ear. Consistent with the

nine previous women found within


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Gotham City in the last year, all

signs point to the still at-large

serial killer.

GORDONDetective.

RAMIREZDont call me that.

GORDONHabit, I suppose. Please sitdown.

Ramirez SITS, followed by Gordon.

RAMIREZAny news, Commissioner?

MORNING NEWS (O.S.)

(interviewee)

I kept knocking. Her car was in

the driveway. Its not like her

to not answer, so I called the

cops.

GORDONYour mother is stable. For now.But there is a chance she wontmake it past the year.

RAMIREZShes a fighter. Shell make it.

(a beat)

RAMIREZ (CONTD)So whats it like out therewithout you know the Batman?


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GORDONWorse than it was. The littlefoxes ruin the vineyards. Gotham

is open for business, and theyknow it.

RAMIREZAnd you and I know why.

GORDONWe also know we did it topreserve a man's legacy.

RAMIREZ(anger rising)

Did it matter?!

GORDON(self-controlled)

Yes, of course. Blaming Batman iswhat we needed. Gotham neededavillain.

RAMIREZ

Gotham is lost. All those scumbagsare back on the street. And Batmanis wanted for murder. Murders weboth know he didnt commit. I hearem in here every day. Theres nofear. Every day a new prisoner in;three are out. They know the gamehas changed.

GORDONA lots changed.

RAMIREZCommissioner you needhim.


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GORDONAnd you need to worry about whenyou get out. Your mother needs

you.

A change of tune.

RAMIREZI heard you spoke to the Board ofParole. I appreciated that.

GORDON

I'm just sorry it didn't help.

RAMIREZI'll be out soon. Better herethan what happened to Wuertz.

(a beat)

GORDONPoor bastard.

GUARD (O.S.)Five minutes, people. Fiveminutes.

GORDONI should go.

RAMIREZHow's Barbara?

GORDONShe's doing well. After well,you know she started seeing atherapist. He does good work.

RAMIREZPlease tell her how sor-


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GORDON-She knows, Anna. Shes long

forgiven you.

CLOSE-UP on Ramirez. She LOOKS AROUND embarrassed by her pastconduct as we-

FADETO:

EXT. GOTHAM PRISON - DAY

Gordon EXITS the prison, HOLSTERING his gun and clips. He

PAUSES. A DEEP BREATH and keeps WALKING as we-

CUTTO:

INT. EVANS OFFICE, GOTHAM S.E.C. - DAY

A large desk next to a wall-size window. The Gotham Globe openedto its crossword. BLANK. Various filings and documents SCATTEREDabout. Two Rubiks Cubes as Book Weights.

FACING the window, Evan. STARING at Gotham City.

A KNOCK. Evan TURNS.

EVAN(loud)

Yeah!

The door OPENS. Gloria ENTERS CARRYING a manila folder.

GLORIAHey.

Evan PICKS UP the newspaper. GRABS a pen.

EVANWhats up?


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GLORIAI was just looking at the Wayne

10-Qs. They look in order. Nothingfunny at all.

Evan is FOCUSED on the crossword. His pen MOVES swiftly like arobot.

EVANNumbers like clockwork, Im sure.

GLORIA

Some quarterly losses. Mostlygains, though. And always yearly.

EVANIts a profitable company.

His pen keeps MOVING. One line after another.

GLORIACan I speak candidly?

Still LOOKING at his paper-

EVANBy all means.

GLORIAWhat are we doing here, Evan?Weve never moved in like this.

The pen GLIDES UP, DOWN, then OVER. Evan STOPS.

He PUTS the pen over his ear and THROWS the newspaper on hisdesk. We DOLLY a glance the crossword complete in itsentirety. Evans attention now directly on Gloria.


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EVANI wont remind you what theMadoff-scandal did to the S.E.C.

GLORIA(incredulous)

Wayne Enterprises is not a Ponzi-Scheme. Hell, its not even aDirect Investment Firm.

Evan SHIFTS in his desk.

EVAN

Its a major U.S. company. Werejust doing the diligence.

GLORIA(sarcastic)

Were punishing them for notrequesting a bailout from UncleSam.

EVANWere here. Get used to it. If

Wayne Enterprises has one murkyinsider dealing - a clerk thatheard about a pancake commodityselling for less than ten cents I want it known. Got it?

Gloria RISES.

GLORIAYeah, I got it. Ill be at WayneEnterprises if you need me.

Gloria WALKS towards the door our POV. We see Evan STARING ather as she leaves.

INT. LOBBY TO EVANS OFFICE, GOTHAM S.E.C. OFFICE - DAY


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Gloria COMES THROUGH the door, CLOSING it as she exits. TheRECEPTIONIST STARES.

A RING. The receptionist HITS a button.

RECEPTIONISTDirector Igmas Office.

(a beat)

RECEPTIONIST (CONTD)Hes in a meeting can I takea message?

Gloria WALKS past as we-

CUTTO:

INT. STUDY, WILLIAM EARLES HOME DAY

Earle SITS at his desk, phone PRESSED against his ear. A double-monitor DISPLAYS various charts and stocks.

EARLE

(into phone)No, no. Thats quite all right.Ill call back.

Earle HANGS UP the phone and SITS BACK. To his left, themonitors. As we FOCUS in, we see WAYNE ENTERPRISES --- $924.03p/s as one of the rows. The computer FLICKERS as we-

DISSOLVETO:

INT. BASEMENT - DAY

DARK and dingy. We AERIAL VIEW a man SLICING his left forearm already riddled with several scars with a large butterflyknife.


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The man WHIMPERS as the knife PENETRATES his skin. Blood FALLS.

Once finished, he BLOTS the wound with a towel. Like marks on a

belt, the man is keeping a living tally on his arm. Nine otherscars.

He STANDS and exits our POV. We see his nightstand. Pictures ofWomen. Except one GORDON AND HIS FAMILY.

CUTTO:

INT. MAJOR CRIMES UNIT - DAY

Rebuilt. Updated. Modern. ANALYSTS at computers. A few plain-clothed OFFICERS question a suspect. A door BUZZES.

Gordon WALKS THROUGH. On the other side, DETECTIVE HARVEYBULLOCK Tough. Streetwise. Menacing. waits for him.

They SHAKE hands.

GORDONLieutenant.

BULLOCKMorning, Commissioner.

GORDONWhat do we got?

BULLOCKIts pretty gruesome. But overall,I'd have to say typical to theothers.

FOCUS on Bullock as we-

CUTTO:

INT. MORGUE, MAJOR CRIMES UNIT DAY


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Refrigerators. A few gurneys. A typical morgue.

In the CENTER, a cadaver: ANABETH GIBBONS. A large WOUND slicedin her neck.

From her POV, Gordon and Bullock enter.

BULLOCK9-11 got the call at-

GORDON-Ten. I know. Friend of the

GORDON (CONT'D)victim, right?

BULLOCKRight. No finger prints. Noforced entry. No signs ofa struggle.

GORDON(fishing)

The victim knewher assailant.

BULLOCKOr hes just that good.

GORDONCould be a her.

Special CUT TO Bullock after all these years, he just assumesits always he.

GORDON (CONTD)This makes ten victims. And wehave precisely dick for suspects.

(A beat)

Bullock LOOKS at Gordon were working as hard as we can.


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BULLOCKKind of makes you wish the Bat

were still around.

Gordon GLANCES at Bullock. Exactly.

BULLOCK (CONTD)([misplaced] indignation)

But that bastardgot what hedeserved.

We FOCUS on Gordon WATCHING Bullock before we-

CUTTO:

FLASHBACK:

EXT. GOTHAM STREET - CONTINUOUS

NIGHT. Cop cars SPEED down the street. LIGHTS ABLAZE.

EXT. ROOFTOP, SKYSCRAPER - CONTINUOUS

BATMAN. He STANDS at the precipice. The Moon ILLUMINATES thesetting.

(a beat)

He LIFTS his hand to his mouth. A small microphone.

BATMAN(into device)

Im ready.

EXT. GOTHAM STREET - CONTINUOUS

Gordon. With a SQUAD OF POLICE and SWAT. We CLOSE-UP on Gordonsear a receiver.


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Gordon PICKS UP his walkie-talkie.

GORDON(into walkie-talkie)

Teams Red and Blue are a go. AirSupport, standby. Corner of Westand Marquee.

EXT. ROOFTOP, SKYSCRAPER - CONTINUOUS

From above, squad cars CONVERGE on the location.

EXT. STREET BELOW, SKYSCRAPER - CONTINUOUS

From outside his car, a PATROLMAN SHOUTS into his loudspeaker.

PATROLMAN(loud)

Batman. We know youre up there.Come out peacefully and withoutincident.

(a pause)

PATROLMAN (CONTD)(loud/less confident)Please.

From his POV, Batman SWOOSHES down and over.

The patrolman DUCKS. Close.

PATROLMAN (CONTD)(into walkie-talkie)

Hes in the air. Southbound, West.Southbound West!

EXT. HELICOPTER -- CONTINUOUS

A Blackhawk. Blades TWIRL. We see a PILOT and a POLICE GUNNER.


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PILOT (CONTD) (O.S.)Sir-

GORDON-Engage.

INT. HELICOPTER -- CONTINUOUSBullets BLAZE OUT. We hear a ROTATING CHAMBER. From the gunnersPOV, Batman NOSEDIVES towards the ground. Bullets just MISSINGhim.

EXT. BATMAN DIVING - NIGHT

Like a pelican diving for a fish. RAPID DECLINE. Bullets HITTINGthe ground below.

INT. HELICOPTER -- CONTINUOUS

The gunner is trigger happy.

PILOT (O.S.)Cease fire! Cease fire!

The bullets stop.

GUNNERGround team, hes at Cicero andCharles East.

EXT. CICERO STREET -- NIGHT

HOMELESS meander about. A patrol-car SPEEDS DOWN the street.Trash everywhere.

EXT. ALLEY, CICERO STREET -- NIGHT

Receptacles. Paper. Batman LEANING against the wall. Hes inagony.

We see him COVERING the side of his abdomen with his right hand.He lifts it to his eyes.


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From this POV, BLOOD. Batman's been shot. Gordon had to hunthim.

EXT. END OF ALLEY, CICERO STREET - NIGHT

A cruiser PULLS UP to the end. It BACKS UP, TURNS, and GUNStowards Batman. He gives chase. We TRACK in front of Batman asthe car SPEEDS towards him.

HOBBLING, Batman FIRES his grappling gun at the building to hisleft. As he ASCENDS, he TURNS and QUICK RELEASES two batarangsthat CLIP the cars tires. The car FLIPS over as we jump-

BACKTO:

INT. MORGUE, MAJOR CRIMES UNIT - DAY

Bullock and Gordon still analyzing the victim.

BULLOCKBased on the color of the skinaround the wound, Id put T.O.I.at around ten the night before.

INT. HALL OUTSIDE MORGUE, MAJOR CRIMES UNIT - DAY

Gordon and Bullock EXIT the morgue and move into the outerhallway. They both REMOVE the gloves they were wearing.

While WALKING-

GORDONCheck with Arkham again. Theyllgive you that weve alreadyscrutinized our records-routine,but go anyway.

BULLOCKLooking for?


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GORDONReleases within the last twenty-Four months. Escapees. Voluntary

check-ins. Check 'em and then checkagain. Every inch.

BULLOCKGot it.

Bullock begins to depart-

-Gordon GRABS his arm.

GORDONAnd when you're done, go over thevictim files again. The only linkmay be gender, but check foremployment, education,associations, addresses. It all.There may be something there.

BULLOCKGot it.

BULLOCK PASSES our POV. We STAY ON Gordon, who PAUSES beforeHEADING in the opposite direction.

INT. CATACOMBS TO BATCAVE -- DAY

DARK. We TRACK Alfred. He PASSES an encased Bat-suit. Then theBat-pod.

INT. SIDE BATHROOM/WORKSTATION, BATCAVE - CONTINUOUS

Bruce STARES at a mirror. Shirtless. Hes just finished SHAVING.WIPES his face with a towel. He LOOKS down at his abdomen. Ascar the size of a bullet. RUBS it.

INT. WORKSTATION, BATCAVE - DAY

Bruce COMES OUT of the bathroom and into the workstation,


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BUTTONING his shirt. Alfred WAITS. Tools. Metal Parts. Devices.Bat-related weapons. In the background, a nearly completed Bat-copter.

This is where Batman comes up with his wonderful toys.

Bruce APPROACHES Alfred.

ALFREDMuch sharper, Master Wayne.

Alfred GESTURES towards the work-table. Bruce is buildingsomething. Somethingwith an exo-skeleton.

ALFRED (CONTD)Whats this?

BRUCEJust staying busy, Alfred.

ALFREDLike bloodyhell.

BRUCE

You never know.

ALFREDIt looks like a suit.

BRUCEThats Foxs department.

ALFREDI think Lucius would havesomething to stay about his suitencased out there-

Alfred MOTIONS towards the catacombs.

BRUCEWhat else can I do with it?


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Alfred SMILES.

ALFREDA young Gloria Dixon is waitingfor you upstairs.

Bruce STARES at Alfred youre bantering with me when theressomeone waiting. PICKS UP a rag. WIPES his hands. BEELINES fordoor.

BRUCE(half-heartedly)

Thanks, Alfred.

ALFREDDont mention it.

As BRUCE exits, we STAY WITH Alfred. He SURVEYS the table.Underneath the electronics, tools, and schematics, a picture Evan Igma.

INT. LIVING ROOM, WAYNE MANOR - DAY

Gloria WAITS. She LOOKS AROUND. From her POV, we see pictures of

Alfred; of Bruces parents; of politicians and celebrities; andlastly, of Henri Ducard. She FOCUSES on him.

BRUCE (O.S.)His name was Henri Ducard.

Gloria TURNS (startled). Bruce STANDS near.

GLORIA(surprised)

Oh, Hi Hello, Mr. Wayne.

She EXTENDS her hand. They SHAKE.

BRUCEHow are you?


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GLORIAJust fine. Was Henri Ducard?

BRUCEYeah. He died a few years ago.He was a great man; imperfect,but he taught me a lot.

GLORIAIm sorry. A teacher of yours?

BRUCEYou could say that. But I wont

bore you; Im sure youre hereon official business-

GLORIA-Yes and no. I wanted to talk toyou off the record.

BRUCESure. Lets go to my office.

Bruce takes the lead. They start WALKING.

BRUCECan I offer you something todrink?

GLORIANo, no, Im fine.

BRUCEYou sure? Alfred is an amazingmixologist.

Bruce LOOKS AROUND.

BRUCE (CONTD)Wherever he is.


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just randomlysubjects you to.

BRUCE

Yeah?

GLORIASomethingelse is going on here.

BRUCEIt doesnt really matter, does it?

Bruce ADJUSTS.

GLORIASorry?

BRUCESo the S.E.C. investigates Wayne

BRUCE (CONT'D)Enterprises. Shareholders loseconfidence. So shares are sold.Stock value drops. But WayneEnterprises will survive. Bounceback. It always survives.

GLORIAI didnt think youd be soindifferent.

BRUCEMs. Dixon, I lost my parentsto a cold-blooded murderer whenI was eight years old. I lost myclosest friends to the Joker. Somewould say this company is all Ihave left. Well, that, and Alfred.Truth is, I dont really care whathappens to Wayne Enterprises.

Gloria is taken aback by this renegade attitude. Like no otherbillionaire shes ever met.


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GLORIAI had no idea.

Gloria FIDGETS.

GLORIA (CONTD)Well, I should be going.

EXT. FRONT DOOR, WAYNE MANOR - DAY

Bruce has the door OPEN. Gloria WALKS towards her car. She TURNSas Bruce is about to close the door.

GLORIAMr. Wayne.

Bruce LOOKS at her.

GLORIA (CONTD)Evan is relentless. Were herefor a reason. I just thought youshould be warned. This may onlyget worse.

BRUCEAppreciate that. Take care.

Gloria TURNS toward her car as we-

CUTTO:

INT. HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

FOCUS ON the door. A key from outside JITTERS the knob.

Door OPENS. Evan ENTERS, HOLDING a generic EVIDENCE BOX.

He SETS the box on a kitchen table. We TRACK in front of him theentire time.


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He HANGS his coat up. HITS the button to check his Messages.

VOICE (O.S.)

You have no new messages.

He LOOKS UP, FOCUSING on the adjacent wall. We DOLLY from infront of him to behind. We TRACK. Evan GAZES at a giant puzzleconstructed on the hotel wall.

Pictures of Gotham City. Wayne Enterprises. News Clippings.Bruce Wayne. Carmine Falcone. Dr. Jonathan Crane. Scarecrow.Flass. Loeb. Rachel Dawes. Harvey Dent. Reese. Rachels Parents.The CHARRED REMAINS of the Bat-Mobile. Joker. Fox. Earle.Alfred. A BURNED-DOWN Wayne Manor. Other Rich Men from Gotham.

Gordon. Bullock. Politicians.

These pictures are CONNECTED by arrows. Like a giant riddle.Evan. Must. Know.

FOCUS ON Evans face as we-

CUTTO:

INT. CELL, HARD ROCK PRISON -- DAY

A large MAN sits on a cot. A notebook OPEN in his lap. It hascrude clippings of comparable photos Batman on the left page.But unlike Evans ambiguities, Bruce Wayne and only BruceWayne- appears on the right. In the binding, an = sign. ThisMan Knows. Hand-drawn bats appear all over the pages.

PRISONER (O.S.)(in Spanish)

Bane. Baaaaaane. The Bat will getyou. Just wait. Gothams Knight iscoming. Just wait. Hes a murderer.Theyll send him here. Then youllbe King no more. Just wait.

EXT. HARD ROCK PRISON - DAY


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Est. shot. SUPERIMPOSE TITLE: HARD ROCK PRISON, PUERTO RICO.

Its a menacing fortress of rock reinforced and protected by

high electric fences, gunner-towers, and several massive lights.At the entrance door, a crude sign reads Abandon all hope, yewho enter IN SPANISH.

INT. SECOND FLOOR WALKWAY, HARD ROCK PRISON - DAY

TWO GUARDS WALK side-by-side, passing the cells hurriedly.Inside, MURDERERS, THIEVES, and VAGRANTS STARE OUT. The secondguard CARRIES a tray of gruel, water, and bread.

GUARD TWO

(in Spanish)Who is the candidate?

GUARD ONE(in Spanish)

The King, of course.

GUARD TWO(in Spanish)

He wont go easily.

GUARD ONE(in Spanish)

He wont know. These are goingin his breakfast.

The guard OPENS his hand to reveal two pills sleeping agents.He CRUSHES them and DROPS the contents in the gruel.


Youll need three.

The guards ARRIVE. From the POV of inside the cell, we see aRita Hayworth-poster and the same MAN looking out. BULKY, with askinned head and wide shoulders. To his right, books STACKED as


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high as possible Machiavellis The Prince, Platos TheRepublic, The Art of War, a thick book entitled The JokerMethodology: Analysis and Reason from Gothams Greatest

Criminal, by Harley Quinn, and finally a few books on C++.Above the books, TAPED to the wall, is one GIANT POSTER ofGotham. Within this photo, pictures of Batman; of Joker; ofHarvey Dent, and of Arkham Asylum.

Next to the poster, NEWS CLIPS. The headlines read:

Batman Forever [Gone]?

Did the Joker work for the Batman?

Who is the Batman?

Rest in Peace White Knight (with a picture of Harvey Dent)

Commissioner Gordon Creates Special Batman Task Unit

Commissioner Gordon Speaks to Gotham University Students Heckled For Not Capturing Batman Yet

Two Years Later Was Dent Really in Cahoots with Batman!?

Gotham Crime Up 325% Since 2008


Breakfast, Bane.

The guard DROPS the tray on the ground, just outside the bars.They EXIT.

INT. BANE CELL, HARD ROCK PRISON -- DAY

BANE(ruggedly)

Gracias.

INT. SECOND FLOOR WALKWAY, HARD ROCK PRISON - DAY


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Two arms REACH OUT and PICK UP the fork, EATING the meal throughthe bars. We see only his arms.

FADETO

BLACK:

FADE IN:

INT. LABORATORY, HARD ROCK PRISON - CONTINUOUS

NIGHT. A gurney. Bane STRAPPED in. Unconscious. Six BLACK DOTSdrawn on the back of his head.

NURSES REINFORCE the straps. TUGGING on them until they wontbudge.

DOCTORS CHECK the machines monitoring Bane. As we DOLLY aroundthe room, we see a vat of chemicals. Next to this vat, a largetube-like device fashioned to a strap-on device with spikes thatlook as if they enter directly into the skull.

NURSE ONE(in Spanish)

Hes ready, doctor.

The doctors NODS to the nurse and TURNS toward the back wall. Heflashes a THUMBS-UP. We DOLLY towards the wall made of mirrorsbefore we-

CUTTO:

INT. OBSERVATION ROOM, HARD ROCK PRISON - CONTINUOUS

From the other-side of the mirrors, FOUR MEN in suits WATCH.

MAN ONE(in Spanish)

Who is the new subject?

The second man READS the paperwork before him. Behind the firstsheet, a document with the label BANNERMAN PHARMACEUTICALS at


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the top.

MAN TWO

(in Spanish)Prisoner name, Bane. Also knownas the King. Sentenced tolife for the crimes of his father-

MAN THREE(in Spanish)

-Hes an innocent man?

MAN FOUR

(in Spanish)His father committed a crime hefled from. The punishment wasthen imposedon the son.

MAN TWO(in Spanish)

No one in Hard Rock is innocent.(continues reading)

Subject age, unknown. Subject

retains immeasurable analyticalabilities with an IQ range fromone-eighty to two-twenty. Releasedate: TBD. Involved in overthirty prison fights wherein fourmen have died. Fifteen seriouslyinjured.

(a beat)

MAN ONE(in Spanish)

Thats all it says? Let me see.

Man Two HANDS the file to Man One. From the latters POV, we seea picture of Bane. Big. Cruel. Soulless.


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MAN TWO(in Spanish)

Thats it.

MAN THREE(in Spanish)

Which number is he?

MAN ONE(in Spanish)

Twelve prior test subjects.

MAN TWO

(in Spanish)Lucky number thirteen. Lets hopehe survives.

Man Two CLICKS on a microphone.

INT. LABARATORY, HARD ROCK PRISON - CONTINUOUS

MAN TWO (O.S.)(in Spanish)

Proceed.

Bane starts to COME TO. GROGGY. SEES the straps. JERKS on them.

BANE(angry)(in Spanish)

What are you doing?

The doctor TURNS ON the device. The spikes SPIN furiously.

BANE(in English)

What are you doing?

The other doctor PICKS UP the device, and BRINGS it towardsBanes head.


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BANE(in Portuguese)

Why me? What is this?

NURSE TWO(in Spanish)

Be brave.

The device nearly on his head. SPINNING.

The doctor slowly PLACES it on Banes crown - like making orangejuice in reverse.

BANE

No. No. No. Arrggh.

Banes eyes ROLL BACK. GRINDING. Nurse One CARRIES a syringe ofmorphine towards Banes arm as we-

CUTTO:


The men WATCH. We TRACK from behind, seeing only Banes arms and

legs violently SHAKE in the straps.


The vat of chemicals the venom - SUCKED THROUGH the pipes.Just enough.

The Heart monitor BEEPS rapidly. SPIKING.

Moments pass.


Bane SHAKES VIOLENTLY then suddenly goes LIFELESS.



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The heart-monitor FLATLINES.


MAN ONE(in Spanish)

Shit!

MAN TWO(in Spanish)

Another one.

MAN FOUR

(angry)(in Spanish)This compound is too potent! Noone can stabilize on absorption.


The doctors and nurses HUDDLE around Bane's body. One CHECKS hispulse. She TURNS and GESTURES. Nothing.

They PLACE a sheet over him and REMOVE their gloves.

DOCTOR ONE(in Spanish)Test Subject Five Three Nine, theprisoner known as Bane, ispronounced dead at approximatelyNine Sixteen P.M., on the fortee--

--the heart monitor BEEPS. Once. Then Twice. Then RAPID FIRE.

NURSE(in Spanish)

Doctor?

They STARE at the gurney. MURMURS and SHAKES. But the sheet onlyRIPPLES ever so slightly.

The monitor continues firing on all cylinders. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.


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Finally, the other doctor slowly WALKS to the gurney. Curiositykills the cat. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

INT. OBSERVATION ROOM, HARD ROCK PRISON -- CONTINUOUS

The four men WATCH intently. Their monitoring-machines are goingcrazy as well. The paradox being the quiet of the gurney.


The doctor LIFTS his hand, GRABBING one end of the sheet.

He FLINGS the sheet back.

NURSE TWO(in Spanish)

Oh my god!

Bane. HUGE. Veins POPPING. Bloody. GROWLS. He has grown twicehis size.

He LIFTS one arm it SNAPS the strap. Then the other.

The nurses and doctors RUN to the Exit. Panic.

They can't open the door.

Bane STANDS.


The men WATCH. Intrigue. The venom works. A cigarette FALLS froma mouth.

With one arm, Bane THROWS the gurney through the mirrors. GlassSHATTERS.

Nurses SCREAM as we-

CUTTO:


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INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE LABORATORY, HARD ROCK PRISON - NIGHT

The door to the lab is OPEN. Glass everywhere. Machines broken.We DOLLY in and survey the damage.

On the floor, two dead nurses and three dead doctors.

Across the way, the mirrored wall is BROKEN THROUGH. The gurneyis protruding half way into the Observation Room. In the back,four dead men.

We hear GRUNTS.

BANE (O.S.)Come on.

It's Bane. As we TRACK to the origin of the sound, we see himworking feverishly near the chemical vat. His intelligence makeshis assembly all the more impressive.

Amazingly, he has a crude version of what will be his ultimatesymbol: a contraption that, through tubes and ingenuity, pumpsvenom directly into his brain.

INT. BANES CELL, HARD ROCK PRISON - NIGHT

DARK. Quiet. From inside the cell, Banes silhouette appearsthrough the bars. He FORCES the door OPEN.

INT. SECOND FLOOR WALKWAY, HARD ROCK PRISON - NIGHT

From outside the cell, we hear Bane PACK. Pale moonlight shinesin. Objects CRASH. GRUNTS. As we DOLLY back, we see dead prisonguards littered about. In the neighboring cells, the samethieves and murders COWER in their corners.

Bane EXITS his cell, bag in hand. Still huge.

He MARCHES towards us. As he PASSES, we see the final product ofhis work A capped device that pumps his drug directly to hishypothalamus from a cartridge worn on his wrist. We DOLLY


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forward and into-

INT. CELL, HARD ROCK PRISON - NIGHT

His cell. The only thing left are the pictures. Batman with abig black CIRCLE around his head.

FADETO:

INT. WILBERT KANES OFFICE, WAYNE ENTERPRISES - DAY

Large desk. Two couches for guests. Big screen TV. Large rug.Scotch table. A presidents office.

Kanes BEHIND the desk, Phone PRESSED to his ear.

KANE(into phone)

So what are you suggesting?

We hear very little from the other end.

KANE (CONTD)P.R.? This is the S.E.C., not the

B.B.B.

(a beat)

KANE (CONTD)A scholarship? To whom?

(a beat)

KANE (CONTD)And thatll do what, exactly?

(A beat)

KANE (CONTD)Thats not bad, actually.


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Devotion to public service.To education. Not bad at all.

(A beat)

KANE (CONTD)How many?

(A beat)

KANE (CONTD)Twentyscholarships? Even if theBoard signs off on this, I haveserious doubts Bruce will.

INT. OFFICE, FOXS HOME -- DAY

LUCIUS FOX is on the other end of the call. At his desk. Bruceacross from him.

FOX(into phone)

I think youll be surprised.

(a beat)

FOXAll right, take care now.

Fox HANGS UP the phone. Bruce SMILES.

BRUCEYou know, the job is yours if youwant it.

FOXMuch obliged, Mr. Wayne.

(catching self)I guess I can call you Brucenow.

Bruce NODS his agreement.


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FOX (CONTD)Im going to have to decline,

Bruce. Wilbert is a finereplacement.

BRUCEWilbert cant design a spring-loaded grappling gun.

FOXHave you asked?

Bruce SMIRKS.

FOX (CONTD)Not that youll need it from myunderstanding.

BRUCEBatman is no more.

FOXFor now.

BRUCEWhat do you know about EvanIgma?

Fox contemplates.

FOXS.E.C. big-wig. Why?

Bruce LOOKS at Fox. Do you really not know?

FOX (CONTD)I met Igma back in 87'. At thetime, I was brought in toZeif Industries to clean-up theirexecutive management. Around thatsame time, the D.O.J. started


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sniffing around. Under theleadership of you-know-who. Longstory, short: I left Zeif around

the same time the Board wasindicted on federal charges.

BRUCEDid they stick?

FOXOh, they stuck. Evan Igma madesure of it. The man's smart,twisted, and driven. The worstcombination for a government

bureaucrat. At D.O.J., his caseswere known as The Riddler Files.Layer upon layer of convolutedcharges all held to together bymystifying testimony. Like a-

BRUCE-Riddle. And now he's at theS.E.C.-

FOX

-Investigating yourcompany.

BRUCEIt's something else. WayneEnterprises is the official reasonhe's here. But that's not the mainreason.

(A beat)

BRUCE (CONT'D)Can you do some digging for me?

FOXDidn't suppose you'd let me enjoymy retirement.


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EVANThis interview isnt about WayneEnterprises, actually.

Evan SLIDES the folder over to Falcones side. A PICTURE ofBatman.

INSERT CUT: BATMAN PULLING FALCONE THROUGH A LIMOUSINE ROOF(BATMAN BEGINS SCENE #18, EDIT # 9).

FALCONEYeah? What about him?

EVAN

Thought we could chat about yourvarious run-ins with Gothamsfinest.

FALCONEI just got out of Arkham becauseof that freak. I dont wantnothin to do with nothin.

EVANWell, Mr. Falcone I do. So get

comfortable.

EXT. ARKHAM ASYLUM - DAY

OVERCAST. Est. Shot. Large mental institution. High doors andbars. Det. Bullock WALKS to the doors.

INT. LOBBY, ARKHAM ASYLUM - CONTINUOUS

We SEE Bullock OPEN the doors and head straight for the ASKHAMRECEPTIONIST. She notices him.

ARKHAM RECEPTIONIST(into phone)

I'll call you back.

Det. Bullock reaches the counter.


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ARKHAM RECEPTIONISTCan I help you?

BULLOCKArchives, please. And page Dr.Quinn. Tell her it's DetectiveBullock.

He FLASHES his badge.

EXT. SCHOOL - DAY

A car PULLS UP. Kids RUN AROUND. A few school buses idle in the

background.

INT. PARKED CAR, SCHOOL - DAY

BARBARA GORDON in the driver seat. JAMES in the front seat.JANE, Gordon's daughter, in the back.

BARBARAAll right, guys. Have a good day.

The front and back doors OPEN. James RUNS towards the school.

JAMES (O.S.)Bye, Mom.

Jane is a little slower to leave.

JANEBye, Mom. Love you.

BARBARALove you too! Learn a lot!

The door SHUTS.

The car PULLS AWAY. As it drives away, we DOLLY to a HOODED MAN.He's LINGERING outside the school.


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He WATCHES Barbara's car. We finally see his face.

VICTOR ZSAZ.

SWIPETO:

EXT. TOWNHOUSE - DAY

Est. Shot. Nice marble townhouse where the proprietor operatesan at-home clinical practice. On the street, Barbara Gordonscar.

INT. OFFICE, TOWNHOUSE -- CONTINUOUS

DR. SUMMERS, mid-fifties, and Barbara SIT in the formersoffice. A typical therapy session. Theyre wrapping up.

DR. SUMMERSI am proud to say that yoursessions should be coming to anend soon. Youve made tremendousprogress, Barbara.

Barbara SMILES.

BARBARASame time next week?

DR. SUMMERS(jokingly)

Oh, all right. If you insist

INT/EXT. TOWNHOUSE -- DAY

Dr. Summers OPENS the door. They HUG as Barbara leaves.

BARBARABye now. Tell Mary I said hello.

DR. SUMMERSWill do. Likewise with Jim.


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BARBARAAbsolutely.

The door CLOSES. We STAY WITH Dr. Summers.

He TURNS AROUND and starts to WALK down the hallway. A fewMOMENTS PASS until we hear-

A KNOCK.

Dr. Summer TURNS and WALKS towards the door. We take his POV.

Another KNOCK.

As hes OPENING the door

DR. SUMMERS(cheery)

Whatd ya forg-

Victor Zsaz SMILES devilishly.

DR. SUMMERS (CONT'D)(reticent)

-Who are you?

CUTTO:

INT. OFFICE, TOWNHOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Zsaz has his FEET-UP on Dr. Summers desk as he READS a patient-file. SCATTERED about, other files.

On the patient couch, UPRIGHT, Dr. Summers. Dead in a mannequinpose. Zsaz's deranged sense of humor.

Zsaz(to Dr. Summers)

Well, Doctor, it appears theGordons live at 32 Washington


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Lane. Thats excellent progress.Anything you would like to add?

Special CUT TO Dr. Summers before we-

CUTTO:

INT. CLASSROOM, GOTHAM HIGH SCHOOL - DAY

Were in Gotham City High School. TWENTY or so STUDENTS SIT inneat rows actually paying heed to the teacher. In the front,MRS. TAFT plucky - WRITES on the chalkboard.

MRS. TAFT(writing Schindlers Ark)

I want to come back to OskarSchindler. We can agree for mosthis life, hes a profiteer; acheater. He sleeps around andboozes. Then he benefits from,essentially, slave labor at Krakow.Yet his legacy is astounding. Arighteous man to most Jews.

Mrs. Taft TURNS and FACES the class.

MRS. TAFT (CONTD)Whats the lesson there?

A few hands RISE.

MRS. TAFT (CONTD)Yeah, Donny.

Class clown.

DONNYI guess if you save a bunchof Jewish folk, no one willremember the bad stuff of yourlife.


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A few CHUCKLES.

MRS. TAFTMaybe but not quite.

Mrs. Taft SCANS the room. A few more hands RISE.

MRS. TAFT (CONTD)Jill.

Class nerd.

JILLId say its a lesson inredemption. None of us arebeyond atoning for our pastlife. For our mistakes.

MRS. TAFTHmm. Maybe. But Schindlersmotivations were hardlyaltruistic.

Two hands SHOOT UP.

Mrs. Taft ignores them.

MRS. TAFT (CONTD)Schindler represents theimperfect hero. His human elementremained throughout. He was nevervirtuous but is rememberedvirtuously.

The lesson settles in.

MRS. TAFT (CONTD)We have five minutes. The guidancedepartment wanted me to announcea new scholarship offered by


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Wayne Enterprises. Its open toall Gotham High School students with a minimum GPA of course.

Applications are in the guidanceoffice. Full tuition for fouryears with graduate school paidfor with certain qualifiers.

Some students PERK UP. We FOCUS on one in particular J.P.VALLEY. Rough around the edges. Lower-class Gothamite.

MRS. TAFT (CONTD)And apparently, the luckyrecipient will be honored with

an exclusive dinner with Mr.Wayne, himself.

A few of the females PERK UP even more.

We FOCUS on J.P. as he scribbles in his notebook.

MRS. TAFT (CONTD)That last part I made up. Sorry,Jill.

The BELL rings. Students CLAMOR.

MRS. TAFT (CONTD)All right, get out a here.

Everyone RISES. J.P remains SEATED. A friend, JEFF, PASSES frombehind.

TURNS, with book-bag in tow

JEFF(jokingly)

Whatd ya think? Are you Waynematerial?

J.P.Well see.


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J.P. isnt in the mood for jokes.

JEFFWell see? Youre seeing ghoulsagain, man. They said scholarship;not voluntary slave. Youd havebetter chances with the lottery.

J.P.Dude, I just said well see.Damn. Itll just make yourapplication look better bycomparison.

J.P. GRABS his books and STANDS. They start to WALK AWAY.

JEFFTrue. You make a good point.Kind of like how your girlfriendmakes my girlfriend look hotter.

J.P. PUNCHES Jeff in the arm as we-

CUT

TO:

INT. BEDROOM, J.P.S HOUSE - NIGHT

J.P. SITS at his desk. Beneath him, a packet of documents withthe letterhead WAYNE ENTERPRISES. Behind him, POSTERS andhang-ups. Typical teenager bedroom.

J.P. FOCUSES on one item in particular. He LIFTS the sheet toread-

J.P.(to self)

Describe a time in your life whenyou had to overcome tremendousodds and how has that influencedyour decision to apply for thisscholarship.


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We DOLLY over J.P.s shoulder and FOCUS on a piece of equipment.NIGHT-VISION BINOCULARS.

INSERT CUT to J.P. as a boy first, when SCARECROW was on thehorse attacking him and RACHEL DAWES; next, to Batman tossingthe goggles to him whilst climbing his building. (BATMANBEGINS SCENE #32, EDIT # 3; SCENE #18, EDIT #1).

We CLOSE on J.P. OPENING UP his laptop while we-

CUTTO:

INT. SIXTH FLOOR, WAYNE ENTERPRISES -- DAY

Gloria SITS in a cubicle her workspace POURING overfinancial disclosures and various documents. At this time, shesexamining Wayne Enterprises CHARITABLE DONATIONS.

She EYES the list and stops on REKINDLE HOPE, INC. --- $10.0mil

GLORIA(to self)

Rekindle Hope?

She OPENS an INTERNET SEARCH ENGINE. TYPES REKINDLE HOPE, INC.

A webpage OPENS. Nothing but a web-sign - UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

Underneath, CONTACT US: 555-569-3408

Gloria PICKS UP the phone. DIALS.

A RING.

A SECOND RING.

SHARON (O.S.)Hello?


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GLORIAHi, my name is Gloria Dixon. Ima deputy investigator with the

Securities and Exchange Commission.

SHARON (O.S.)(nervous)

Okay?

GLORIAWith whom am I speaking?

SHARON (O.S.)Uh, this is Sharon.

GLORIAHi, Sharon. Do you-

SHARON (O.S.)-Hi.

GLORIAIs this still the Rekindle HopeCorporation?

SHARON (O.S.)Who?

GLORIAI didnt think so. Thanks,Sharon.

SHARON (O.S.)Okay Bye.

Gloria HANGS UP. She FOCUSES on this $10 million dollarappropriation as we-

CUTTO:

EXT. SEAPORT, PUERTO RICO - DAY


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Merchants. Sailors. Ships in harbor. Kids RUN around. FamiliesWALK the pier.

INT. CAF NEAR SEAPORT, PUERTO RICO -- DAY

Basic Spanish caf. Informal. A television is ON. Interferencemakes the picture FUZZY.

Bane SITS at a table. A journal OPEN before him. No device. Athick bandage covers his head. A pack accompanies him on theopposite chair. His eyes, hollow. Withdrawn. Like an addictneeding a fix.

A few SPANISH MEN LAUGH at something at an adjacent table.Drunk.

From over Banes shoulder, we see his entry:

A picture of Batman. Underneath, the word DEMON (in Spanish).

SAILOR ONE(in Spanish)

A demonic bat, eh?

GIGGLES. One of the Spaniards has eavesdropped.

Bane TURNS. Simply LOOKS at him.

SAILOR ONE (CONTD)(in Spanish)

I know where he is. Or was.

BANE(in Spanish)

Gotham.

SAILOR ONE (CONTD)(in Spanish)

Gotham City, that's right. Heslegendary. The best.


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BANE(in Spanish)

Not for long.

A SECOND SAILOR joins.

SAILOR TWO(in Spanish)

Were going to Gotham. In

He HOLDS UP three fingers.

SAILOR TWO (CONTD)(in Spanish)

Two days.

BANE(in Spanish)

How much to go?

SAILOR TWO(in Spanish)

On our ship? A lot of money. Far

too much.

BANE(in Spanish)

How much money?

The two sailors LOOK at each other. Inflation prices.

SAILOR ONE(in Spanish)

Forty thousand pesos.

They LAUGH.

BANE(in Spanish)

Done.


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He PLACES the pesos on the table. The men MARVEL.

We DOLLY away from the table to the Fuzzy Television-

SPANISH NEWSCASTER

(in Spanish)

-This Prisoner. (picture of Bane).

Guards say he is extremely

dangerous. If you see him, contact

the authorities immediately.

Before we-

CUTTO:

INT. CABIN, CARGO SHIP - NIGHT

Bane. Alone. No device or venom pumping through his system. Hisroom is SMALL; dirty. Poorly lit.

He's on the bed HOLDING a journal.

We take his POV as he flips to the first page.

CLOSE-IN at the top 13 JUNE 1998.

BANE (V.O.)(boys voice)

I've been sentenced to jail. I'mfifteen.

We see-

INT. LIVING ROOM, SMALL HUT - CONTINUOUS

A family. BOY playing with his SISTER. DAD sitting on the chair,READING.

TWO COPS BREAK OPEN the door.


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COP ONE(in Spanish)

Let's go! Now!

A man is CUFFED and DRAGGED out of his house. The Boy WATCHES.

BANE (V.O.)(CONT'D)(boys voice)

My father is convicted of crimesagainst the State. They sentencehim to thirty years.

INT. BEDROOM, SMALL HUT - CONTINUOUS

The Boy IN BED. The Dad tells the story. We hear only theVOICEOVER


He tells me his plans to unionizehis work. About his workingconditions. A man from Americathat visited. It wasn't longbefore someone turned him in. Mydad flees before his sentence.

INT. LIVING ROOM, SMALL HUT - CONTINUOUS

The two cops question the MOM. The Boy WATCHES.


My mom tells them the truth. Theydon't care. Tell her I'm goingwith them.

They GRAB the boy. DRAG HIM outside. The mom gives chase.

INT. CELL, HARD ROCK PRISON - CONTINUOUS

The Boy is TOSSED IN. He GETS UP and TURNS. The cell-bars CLOSE.Hes terrified.


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INT. CABIN, CARGO SHIP - CONTINUOUS

Bane FLIPS a few pages as we-

CUTTO:

EXT. PRISON YARD, HARD ROCK PRISON - DAY

RAINING. A crowd of PRISONERS encircle something as they CHEER.We DOLLY over them and see the commotion.

YOUNG BANE standing over a dead prisoner. We focus on the knife

wound.

BANE (V.O.)(teenager voice)

October. Two Thousand and One.Seventeen when I kill my firstman.

GUARDS come RUNNING. Batons OUT.

EXT. HOLE, HARD ROCK PRISON -- DAY

Guards FORCE youngerBane to the Hole. They THROW him in. HeTURNS as the door CLOSES.

When it OPENS olderBane. The years have passed.

BANE (V.O.)Third, August, Two Thousand Nine.Another month in the hole.

INT. CELL, HARD ROCK PRISON - DAY

Bane WALKS in. The bars behind CLOSE.

BANE (V.O.)(CONTD)Another month to plot. Vengeanceis mine. I now know. I now know


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the man behind it all.

FLASHBACK:

INT. CEO OFFICE, WAYNE ENTERPRISES - DAY

1998. Earle is the CEO. He LEANS BACK in his chair.

CHAFFEUR (O.S.)Sir? The planes ready. Youllbe in Santa Prisca by tonight.

EARLEIll be right there.

The phone RINGS.

EARLE (CONTD)(into phone)

William Earle.

(A long beat). Earle listens.


What do you want? Hes dead andBruce is gone. Were closing itdown tomorrow. These people wantto unionize, to hell with em.

(A beat)


No, you listen. Wayne Enterprisesis going in a whole new direction.A direction that does not includesome bullshit factory in PuertoRico.

(A beat)


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-I DONT GIVE A SHIT ABOUT THE

LOCALS! Look, Im going theretomorrow to shut it down myself.

He HANGS up the phone and swiftly bolts to the door as we-

SWIPETO:

INT. CELL, HARD ROCK PRISON - CONTINOUS

Back with Bane. 2005.

Hes at a makeshift desk. BOOKS piled up. His wall has not yetsprouted the web we saw earlier [of pictures and clippings].

BANE (V.O.)Gothams own prince. Owner andChair of Wayne Enterprises.

Bane PICKS UP a picture of Bruce as we-

CUT

TO:

INT. CELL, HARD ROCK PRISON - CONTINUOUS

NIGHT. Bane SHIFTS back and forth. WAKES UP. Out of breath.

BANE (V.O.)A bat plagues my dreams. The samebat from my childhood.

EXT. PRISON YARD, HARD ROCK PRISON CONTINUOUS

Prisoners STAND AROUND, talking. In the background, weights arebeing lifted. The Guards CHAT with one another.

BANE (V.O.)The proletariats talk of a new


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presence; Gothams Dark Knight.A Bat. The Bat.

INT. CHAPEL, HARD ROCK PRISON - CONTINUOUS

Bane BOWS in prayer. An OLD MAN behind him, HOLDING a rosary.

BANE (V.O.)An excommunicated priest tellsme dreams are Gods secret windowinto our lives. I ask him if thesame holds for nightmares. No,he says. Nightmares are thedevils playground.

INT. LIBRARY, HARD ROCK PRISON - DAY

A few bookcases. Old books. Not too shabby for a Spanishlibrary. Theres even an old MACINTOSH COMPUTER in the back.Bane SITS at the computer monitor in front. He CLICKS aroundon the Internet.

The page is open to the Gotham Times BRUCE WAYNE, BACK FROMTHE DEAD!

He CLICKS.

The page is open to a picture of Carmine Falcone, strapped intothe giant light, with the headline - WHO DID THIS!? GIANT BAT,HE CLAIMS.

He CLICKS again.

The page is open to a picture of Lucius Fox and Bruce posing ata charity gala; the headline TITAN AND HIS CAPTAIN DONATEMILLIONS TO REBUILD ARKHAM ASYLUM. Underneath, a smallerheadline BATMAN DEAD?LAST SEEN IN INFAMOUS POLICE SHOOT-OUT.

Without notice, Bane TYPES IN a complicated algorithm. Momentslater, hes HACKED into WAYNE ENTERPRISES.


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He navigates to the internal financials, through the R&DDepartment, to Foxs biography and finally an internalmemorandum detailing Reeses bonus a $20,000,000.00 payment.

GUARDS (O.S.)(in Spanish)

Times up, Bane!

INT. CELL, HARD ROCK PRISON - NIGHT

VERY DARK. A candle LIT. Bane is WRITING in his journal.FLICKERS of light reveal the wall being filled with the

clippings and pictures we saw at our first introduction.

BANE (V.O.)Twenty-nine, January, Two ThousandTen. I discover the truth. BruceWayne is Batman. Bruce Wayne isthe reason Im here. Batman is thereason Im here.

He HOLDS UP the candle to the wall. Full ILLUMINATION.

FADETO:

INT. RESTAURANT -- NIGHT

High Class. Earle and Evan IMBIBE on wine. The conversationpurposely cryptic.

EARLEWhen is this going public?

EVANSoon, Bill. Soon. Theres noneed to rush it.

EARLESure, there is! I dont need to


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tell you how much money I put inshort-selling Wayne stock-

EVAN(disinterested)

-A lot, Im sure.

Evan takes a SIP of wine.

EARLEYoure damn right! Wayne valuehas to drop below seven hundred.

EVAN

It will. You have the fullconfidence of the United StatesGovernment. But it takes time.

A waiter CHECKS IN.

WAITERGentlemen, are you ready?

EVANYeah. Bill?

The waiter tends to both.

EARLEIll have the glazed salmon.Arugula Salad with cavier.

WAITERSounds good.

(to Evan)Sir?

EVANYeah Ill take the lambchopswith a side of horta, lemonpotatoes and the greek salad.


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WAITERVery good.

The waiter LEAVES.

EARLEThought you were a vegetarian?

As deadpan as possible-

EVANI am.

FOCUS ON Earles confused LOOK as we-

CUTTO:

EXT. ALLEY - CONTINUOUS

A car PULLS UP. It IDLES.

INT. CAR - NIGHT

Gordon SITS by impatiently. Nervous.

EXT. ALLEY - NIGHT

A FIGURE approaches from the shadows.

INT/EXT. CAR -- NIGHT

The Figure stays above the light. We never see his face. But hisvoice is unmistakable.

BATMANCommissioner.

GORDONHows the stomach?


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BATMANIll live.

GORDONAnother girl in Kings Park.

BATMANI know.

GORDONI need your help on this one.

BATMANIll see what I can find.

GORDONHes at ten, now. We cant havean eleventh.

BATMANSend me your files encrypted.Everything you have.

Batman PLACES a card on the sill of the doors window. GordonGRABS it.

GORDONSorry I had to contact you.

BATMANDont apologize.

A police cruiser FLIES down the street. Gordon CHECKS his rear-view mirror.

GORDONHow lon-

Batman is GONE.

EXT. ALLEY - NIGHT


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Gordons engine turns over as we-

CUT

TO:

INT. WORKSTATION, BATCAVE - DAY

The Bat Copter LOOMS in the background. The exo-skeleton nearscompletion a steel-laced suit SILVER in color

the BAT BOT.

Bruce SITS at a separate table. HUGE COMPUTER. POURING overevidence. Alfred with him.

Bruce DOWNLOADS several files.

ALFREDI dont suppose they could haveused you sooner.

BRUCEGordon knows not to contact meunless absolutely necessary.

ALFREDHell always need you.

BRUCENeed I remind you I'm officiallyEnemy #1 with Gotham's finest.

ALFREDClarity over unity, Master Wayne.One day, the truth will emerge.

BRUCE(clicking on mouse)

I think I know who it is.

ALFREDLike riding a bike with you.


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INT. BARBARAS CAR - NIGHT

Empty. The door OPENS. Barbara GETS IN. As she PUTS HER purse onthe passenger seat, an arm SCARRED - EXTENDS from behind theseat. A large KNIFE in hand. We see only the arm.

ZSAZ (O.S.)(softly)

Dont move. Dont scream. Putthe car in reverse or Ill sliceyour neck in two.

Barbara WHIMPERS in SHOCK.

ZSAZ (CONTD)What part of that didnt youunderstand?

BARBARA(in shock)

I have to, uh, I have to get,get the keys.

Barbara REACHES to her purse. Thinking as a Commissioners wife,she grabs her keys and her cell-phone (jointly). As she BRINGSthe key to the ignition, she DROPS the cell phone on her lap out of sight. As she puts the car IN REVERSE, and GRABS thesteering wheel with her left hand, she quickly HITS SEND onher phone (twice). It DIALS to Gordon.

EXT. STREET - NIGHT

The cars REVERSE LIGHTS go on. It BACKS UP.

INT. GORDONS OFFICE - NIGHT

Gordon SITS at his desk. A rocks glass of whiskey before him. Aphone RINGS on Gordons desk. The screen says SWEETHEART.

Gordon ANSWERS IT.


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GORDON(into phone)

Hey beaut-

BARBARA (O.S.)-Where are we going?

Gordon LISTENS.

ZSAZ (O.S.)Shut up.

BARBARA (O.S.)Why do you have so many scarson your arm?

Gordon BRINGS his hand to his mouth, takes stock-

ZSAZ (O.S.)Youll see.

And RUNS towards the door.

BARBARA (O.S.)(begins crying)Please, I have a family

EXT. ROOF, MAJOR CRIMES UNIT -- CONTINUOUS

NIGHT. The BAT LIGHT is on. Jagged LIGHT LAYERS the sky. Not aBat in the sky. Just a ragged spotlight. Still BROKEN; butworking nonetheless.

Gordon PACES. Bullock with him.

BULLOCKAnd the kids?

GORDONTheyre fine. They're at our


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neighbor's.

BULLOCK

Jesus, Jim. And Arkham was adead-end.

Batman DROPS from the sky. LANDS in the middle of them.

Bullock DRAWS his gun.

BULLOCKFreeze!

Gordon STOPS pacing.

GORDON(to Batman)

He has Barbara.

Bullock, gun still drawn, WATCHES confused.

BATMANArkham was the key.

BULLOCK

I said freeze!

Batman and Gordon LOOK at Bullock. We hear POLICE SIRENS in thedistance.

GORDONHolster that weapon, Detective.

Gordon LOOKS at both men frantically.

BULLOCKSir?

GORDONThats an order.


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Bullock SLOWLY HOLSTERS it as we-

CUT

TO:

INT. POLICE CRUISER - NIGHT

Two GOTHAM OFFICERS DRIVE towards the light.

GOTHAM OFFICER(into walkie)

Northbound now.

He CLIPS the CB back to the receiver.

GOTHAM OFFICER(to partner)

I didnt even know that thingstill worked.

They stare at the Bat-Signal as we cut-

BACKTO:

EXT. ROOF, MAJOR CRIMES UNIT -- NIGHT

Bullock has holstered his gun.

GORDON (CONTD)(to Batman)

What do you mean Arkham was thekey?

BATMANYou didnt go back far enough.

BULLOCKTwo years.

BATMANDo you remember Crane?


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BULLOCKDr. Jonathan Crane still in

Arkham.

INSERT QUICK IMAGE: SCARECROW

GORDONWhat about him?

BATMANThe vaporizing microwave-

GORDON

-Enough! Just get to the point!

BATMANFifty-three Arkham patientsescaped in one night. We trackeddown fifty-one. But we wereinterrupted by the Joker and lostsight of the rest.

BULLOCKWho were the two?

BATMANOne was caught last year inMetropolis by the El. The otheris Victor-

GORDON-Zsaz.

BULLOCKWhos that?

BATMANRich-kid turned serial killer.Butchered for the mob; went outon his own. Arrested in 2001by then Lieutenant-


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GORDON-Shit.

BATMAN-Gordon. Escaped Arkham in 05.

GORDONHes going to kill Barbara.

Gordon PRODUCES the phone. Still ON. Still CONNECTED.

GORDON (CONTD)Shes still there. Theyve been

driving for hours.

Batman POINTS a device in the sky and CLICKS a button. Aretractable ladder DESCENDS and lands at their feet.

BATMANGet in. Ill trace en route.

GORDON(angry)

You dont think I thought of

that!? Her phone is GPS-disabled.I would have tracked her on myown!

Bullock LOOKS at Gordon.

BATMANYou dont have mytechnology.

EXT. SKY ABOVE ROOF, MAJOR CRIMES UNIT - NIGHT

Overhead, the BAT-COPTER HOVERS.

EXT. SKY - CONTINUOUS

NIGHT. The Bat-Copter ROARS ahead.


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INT. BAT-COPTER CONTINUOUS

Batman PILOTS. Bullock and Gordon in the back.

BULLOCKSir

Gordon is in a TRANCE-

BULLOCK (CONTD)Jim.

Gordon LOOKS at him.

BULLOCK (CONTD)What the hell is going on? Thisguys a murderer.

GORDONThe whole thing, all of it; madeup.

BULLOCKWhat are you talking about?

GORDONIt was Dent. It was always Dent.

BULLOCKDent what?

GORDONHe killed those cops. Wuertz.And the mob guys.

BATMAN (O.S.)Were sixteen miles out.

BULLOCK(to Gordon)

I dont believe that.


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GORDON(to Batman)

What then?

INT. BARBARAS CAR - CONTINUOUS

Zsaz in the back seat. Barbara in the front. The phone still ON.Still DRIVING.

ZSAZAt the light, turn right.

EXT. ROAD - NIGHT

The car PULLS UP to a stop-light. CLICKS from red to green. Thecar TURNS.

INT. BARBARAS CAR -- CONTINUOUS

ZSAZLeft at the next driveway.

BARBARAAnd then what?

EXT. CABIN - NIGHT

Est. Shot. A small wooden cabin surrounded by woods. Barbarascar PULLS UP the long driveway. Her lights go OFF.

INT. BARBARAS CAR - CONTINUOUS

She SITS stationary. His car door OPENS.

EXT. CAR IN DRIVEWAY, CABIN -- CONTINUOUS

Back-door OPENS.

INT/EXT. BARBARAS CAR -- CONTINUOUS

We watch her EYES TRAIL him. She slowly MOVES her hand to thephone, GRABS IT, and SLIDES it towards her pocket. Her car door


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OPENS. Zsaz STANDS there, knife still in hand.

ZSAZ (O.S.)

Lets go!

Her right hand MOVES a little more. Not quite in pocket.

ZSAZ (CONTD)What the hell is that?

He GRABS Barbara by the hair and FORCES her out. As shes LIFTEDto her feet, the phone FALLS to the ground. Zsaz STARES at it.Then PICKS IT UP.

We take his POV as the phone flashes JIM, TIME OF CALL: 3 hrs26 mins. Zsaz THROWS the phone, and KICKS Barbara to theground. As she CRIES OUT, and LOOKS UP, we take her POV.

Overhead, Zsaz POSITIONS the knife.

BARBARAPlease! I dont even know you.

ZSAZ

But your husband does. Pity, too.I had such plans for you in there.

Zsaz MOTIONS towards the cabin.

BARBARAOh, god!

Zsaz STANDS overhead, shit-eating GRIN on his face. It TURNS tosurprise after something HITS his hand, SLICING IT, KNOCKING theknife to the ground.

Zsaz LOOKS UP, OVER, ALL AROUND Who did that? Then Zsaz SEESIT on the ground. A small BATARANG.

EXT. BEHIND CABIN - CONTINUOUS


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Gordon on one end of the Cabin, gun drawn, PEEKING OUT.

EXT. OTHERSIDE OF CABIN - CONTINUOUS

Bullock doing the same.

EXT. DRIVEWAY, CABIN - CONTINUOUS

Zsaz HOLDS his hand. Bloody. Before he can get his bearings,Batman SWOOPS IN and TACKLES him.

EXT. BOTH SIDES OF CABIN CONTINUOUS

Gordon and Bullock RUSH.

EXT. DRIVEWAY, CABIN - CONTINUOUS

Batman and Zsaz ROLL a bit. Zsaz THRASHES around.

JIM (O.S.)Don't move, Zsaz.

BARBARAJim!

Zsaz BREAKS FREE of Batman's grip. SCRAMBLES to Barbara, who hasnow started RUNNING towards Barbara. He PULLS another knife fromhis back-pocket.

Batman FIRES his grappling gun at Zsaz, but MISSES.

From Gordons POV, Zsaz makes GAINS on Barbara. He can't shoot she's blocking his aim.

BULLOCKFreeze!

Ignored.

Batman GETS UP and starts RUNNING towards Zsaz as well. Batmanchasing Zsaz chasing Barbara who is trying to get to Jim.


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Zsaz INCHES from Barbara.

Bullock OPENS fire. HITS Zsaz TWICE. One CUTS THROUGH and hits

Batman in the chest.

A dying Zsaz CATCHES Barbara with his knife. STABBING her in theback. They both FALL into Jim's arm.

JIMNo! No, Barbara.

FADETO:BLACK

Monitors BEEP.

FADE IN:

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - NIGHT

Monitors continue BEEPING. Barbara in a hospital bed unconscious. Gordon STANDS at the door.

EXT. ENTRANCE, HOSPITAL - NIGHT

Gordon STEPS OUT. Looks out into Gotham City.

BATMAN (O.S.)How is she?

Gordon TURNS. Batman.

GORDONShe'll live. Doctors say hejust missed a major artery.

Gordon catches himself emotionally-

GORDON (CONTD)How about you? I saw Bullockclipped you.


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BATMANBullet barely penetrated.

GORDONWe can't keep doing this.

BATMANGotham needs you.

GORDONNo, Gotham needs you.

BATMAN

Everything I've done; everyoneconnected to me has beenhurt or, worse, killed.

GORDONThat's not your fault.

Gordon MOTIONS towards the hospital.

GORDON (CONT'D)Besides Zsaz is dead.

BATMANFor what its worth I'm sorry.

Batman HANDS something to Gordon.

BATMAN (CONT'D)I'll keep Barbara in my prayers.

Batman FIRES his grappling gun skyward. It WRAPS around the Bat-copter. He ASCENDS.

Gordon LOOKS in his hands. We never see what it is.

CUTTO:


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ALFREDDont suppose youre suggesting

I takeover.

Bruce SMILES.

BRUCETheres something Dent once said-

ALFREDWhats that, Master Bruce?

BRUCE

That-

INSERT CUT: (THE DARK KNIGHT SCENE #14, EDIT #1)

DENT

You either die a hero, or you live

long enough to see yourself become

the villain. Look, whoever the

Batman is, he's looking for someone

to take his place. He doesn't want

to do it forever. How could he?

BRUCE (CONTD)How can I, Alfred?

ALFREDYou cant, Master Wayne.

BRUCEI always thought it would beDent

CUTTO:

INT. KANES OFFICE, WAYNE ENTERPRISES - DAY

Gotham Newspaper. A picture of Zsaz with a headline that reads


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DEAD OR ALIVE! COMMISSIONERS WIFE STABBED IN BOTCHED RESCUEATTEMPT with the sub-title VICTOR ZSAZ BELIEVED TO BE ARKHAMBUTCHER!

Kane DROPS a stack of applications on his desk. Takes his seat.He PICKS UP the first packet and FLIPS IT open as we-

CUTTO:

INT. EVANS OFFICE, GOTHAM S.E.C. - DAY

Feet UP on his desk, fidgeting with a Rubiks cube. Gloriaacross from him. Case Briefing.

GLORIASo everything looks good excepttwo appropriations. Nominalamounts, though.

EVANHow much?

Gloria FLIPS a few pages. Confers with her paperwork.

GLORIATen million dollars; well, tenand then twenty million bothexpended in 2008.

EVANTo?

GLORIAWell the first went to an outfitOrganized in Delaware a RekindleHope Corporation. The other-

EVAN-What was their charter?


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GLORIAIt was odd. They had oneenumerated business purpose. To

provide gifts to the families ofany and all victims associatedwith Gotham City.

Evan PERKS his attention.

EVANInteresting.

GLORIAThey filed one 990. Listed one

asset and one exhaustive gift.

EVANTen million to

GLORIAIt just says Dawes Keating,North Carolina.

EVANAnd?

GLORIAThats it.

EVANAnd the twenty?

GLORIAA severance package to an M&Aattorney. Coleman Reese.

EVANThe same Coleman Reese that-

GLORIA-Went on national television toout the Batman. Yes.


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EVANNow thats veryinteresting.

INT. CLASSROOM, GOTHAM HIGH SCHOOL - DAY

Mrs. Tafts class again. J.P. listens attentively.

MRS. TAFT (O.S.)So Ethan Frome was written by-

Mrs. Taft SCANS the room looking for hands. The classroom phoneRINGS.

MRS. TAFT (CONTD)(walking towards phone)

Edith Wharton. One second.

She PICKS it UP.

MRS. TAFT (CONTD)Hello?

A beat.

MRS. TAFT (CONTD)Wow. I had no idea. Are yousure?

The CLASS notices the teachers concern.

MRS. TAFT (CONTD)Ill send him right away.

A beat.

MRS. TAFT (CONTD)Absolutely.

A beat.


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MRS. TAFT (CONTD)No, hell definitely be in myprayers. Im just sorry it came

to this.

A beat.

MRS. TAFT (CONTD)All right. Bye.

She HANGS UP the phone. Takes a DEEP BREATH.

MRS. TAFT (CONTD)J.P.?

All eyes on him.

J.P.(concern)

Yeah?

MRS. TAFTThe guidance office wants youto go down there.

A few GIGGLES.

J.P.(disbelief)

Thats it?

MRS. TAFT(dry)

Yeah, whatd you think it was?

He just looks at her incredulously. GRABS his books and heads tothe door.

MRS. TAFT (O.S.)Misperception which is centralto Ethan Frome can lead to verydangerous roads.


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INT. GUIDANCE OFFICE, GOTHAM HIGH SCHOOL - DAY

HIRSCHBECK, the aged counselor, SITS at his desk. J.P. ENTERS.

HIRSCHBECKMr. Valley, good to see you!

J.P. DROPS his bag. Takes a seat.

J.P.I was called here?

HIRSCHBECKExciting news. Exciting news,indeed.

J.P.Okay?

HIRSCHBECKI just got off the phone withWayne Enterprises. They want you

to come in for an interview nextweek. Three P.M. on Thursday.

J.P.Wow. Interview with?

HIRSCHBECKWilbert-

Hirschbeck CHECKS his notes.

HIRSCHBECK (CONTD)-Kane. President of WayneEnterprises.

J.P.And Bruce Wayne?


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HIRSCHBECKHa! Unlikely. But heres your

application package.

Hircshbeck HANDS a file over. J.P. TAKES it.

HIRSCHBECK (CONTD)It has your transcript which is,how do we say, squiggy. They musthave seen something in your essay.

Hirschbeck SHRUGS.

J.P.Can you say that to a student?

HIRSCHBECK(oblivious)

Say what?

J.P.Nevermind. Thursday at three.

HIRSCHBECKYep.

J.P.Ill be there.

EXT. COAST, GOTHAM CITY -- DAY

The Spanish Vessel SLOWLY DRIFTS towards Gotham. We take theships POV and see a landscape view of Gotham City.

INT. BEDROOM, WAYNE MANOR - DAY

MORNING. Bruce sleeps.

ALFRED (O.S.)Master Wayne!


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Alfred BURSTS IN. Bruces eyes OPEN.

Alfred GRABS the remote.

ALFREDYoull want to see this.

Alfred CLICKS ON the television. Bruce SITS UP. Evans on TV.Microphones before him.

EVANAs of right now, Wayne

Enterprises is being listedas a C.O.I; what the S.E.C. callsa Company of Interest. Ourreport will be public shortly.Thank you.

INT. SIXTH FLOOR, WAYNE ENTERPRISES -- DAY

Glorias Cubicle. She WATCHES on her computer.

GLORIA

(to self)What are you at, Evan

EXT. WAYNE MANOR - DAY

A pickup truck PULLS UP. Fox.

INT. CATACOMBS, BATCAVE - DAY

Wayne and Fox WALK towards the laboratory. Fox notices the case.

FOX(dry)

Very feng shui, Mr. Wayne.


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BRUCE(without missing a beat)

Please. Call me Bruce.

INT. LABORATORY, BATCAVE - CONTINUOUS

The two examine Bruces design.

HOLDING the cowl-

FOXThis wont work.

PICKS UP various pieces of armor-

FOX (CONTD)Nor this. With what you want,you have to trade the SteelKevlar for something moredurable. Like titanium. Youllnever get lift with steelweighing you down.

BRUCEThere's something else I want to

run by you.

Fox SETS the equipment down. Eyes on Bruce.

FADETO:

INT. LABORATORY IN BATCAVE - DAY

Fox NODS his head.

FOXBut who?

BRUCESomeone.


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FOXMr. Wayne, everyone wants to beBatman. Just like everyone wants

to be Bruce Wayne.

BRUCEBut?

FOXWould you actually put your lifein consistent danger for GothamCity?

Bruce contemplates-

FOX (CONTD)Figuratively. Not you, you.

BRUCEI understand your point, Mr. Fox.

EXT. DRIVEWAY, WAYNE MANOR - DAY

Bruce WALKS Fox to his truck.

FOXI caught that press conference.

BRUCEAnd?

FOXStill digging, Mr. Wayne. In themeantime, Ill come up with anappropriate alloy for your newtoy.

Fox OPENS his truck door as we-

CUTTO:


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INT. WAYNE MANOR - DAY

Alfred WATCHES the two men from a window before we-

CUTTO:

INT. BOARDROOM, WAYNE ENTERPRISES - DAY

Same room from the beginning. Kane on one end. J.P. on theother. A glass of water between each person. Kanes nearly full.J.P.s is damn near empty.

KANESo you really met the Batman?

J.P.(nervous)

I mean it wasnt a meet andgreet. He was scaling my wall inthe Narrows.

KANEYour essay says he gave you his

gadget.

J.P.Thats right.

KANE(excited)

Did you bring it?

J.P.I did.

J.P. BENDS DOWN and UNZIPS his bag. Inside, the Night VisionGoggles. He sets it on the Table.

KANEWow. Do you mind if I take a look?


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J.P.Not at all.

J.P. WALKS the goggles to the other-end of the table. HANDS itto Kane.

Kane SURVEYS it.

KANEWell, He painted it entirely inblack. Lets see if

Kane FINGERS the gadget, looking for the battery. J.P. WATCHES.

KANE(to self)

Yep. There it is.

The case UNCLIPS.

The boardroom door OPENS.

BRUCE (O.S.)Mr. Kane.

Kane FUMBLES the device. Doesnt open the battery yet. One ofthe richest men in the world, and J.P.s eyes say it all.

KANEMr. Wayne, how are you?

BRUCEGreat. Whats this?

Kane HANDS the goggles to Bruce.

KANELet me introduce you to J.P.Valley.

J.P. RUSHES over and they SHAKE hands.


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BRUCEHows it going?

J.P.(struck)

Hi how, how are you?

KANEJ.P. is one of our promisingapplicants for the Wayne PublicService scholarship.

BRUCE

Good for you, J.P.

J.P.Th thanks.

KANEJ.P. wrote a wonderful essay onhis chance encounter with Batman.

Bruce still HOLDS the goggles.

BRUCEIs that so?

J.P.Yes, sir.

KANE(points to goggles)

Batman went so far as to give J.P.that.

BRUCEWow.

KANEGo ahead, J.P., tell Mr. Wayne.


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J.P.Its just like he said. I was on

my porch and Batman was scaling mywall. We chatted and he tossed mehis goggles.

BRUCESounds like that Mean Joe Green-commercial.

Kane LAUGHS. J.P. is too young to get the joke.

J.P.But he also saved me and thiswoman from the Scarecrow.

Bruce gets serious.

BRUCEThe woman?

INSERT CUT: Rachel and young-J.P. CLUTCHING each other -(BATMAN BEGINS SCENE #35, EDIT #12)

J.P.Its all in my essay. When I sawwhat Batman represented, I decidedpublic service was my calling. Myparents-

BRUCE-But hes a murderer.

J.P.I dont believe that for onesecond, sir.

BRUCEIt was nice meeting you, J.P.


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Bruce HANDS the goggles back to Kane.

BRUCE (CONTD)Mr. Kane.

And LEAVES.

Kane TURNS the device over. OPENS the battery-case.

EMPTY.

KANEDamn.

INT. LOBBY TO BOARDROOM, WAYNE ENTERPRISES -- DAY

Bruce WALKS away. In his right hand, a battery. Its labeledMANUFACTURED BY WAYNE ENTERPRISES.

INT. DINING ROOM, WAYNE MANOR - CONTINUOUS

AFTERNOON. Alfred SITS at the dining table. The table set beforehim.

BRUCE (O.S.)Its almost done.

ALFREDThis feels quite paradoxical,Master Wayne.

Bruce COMES OUT with a tray of food turkey, potatoes,stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy, et cet.

BRUCEOh stop it, Alfred. Youre notthe only one who can cook. Andwould you please call me Bruce.

Bruce SETS the tray in the middle of the table.


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ALFREDBut am I the only one who cancook well?

Bruce DARTS him a glance-

BRUCEWhite or dark?

ALFREDDark, of course.

Bruce begins CUTTING.

BRUCEHeres to a great Thanksgiving.

INT. DINING ROOM, WAYNE MANOR - CONTINUOUS

The meals over. Table is CLEARED. Two coffees before the men.Paperwork on the table.

ALFREDI supported this one hundredpercent. When you were doing it.

But now youre talking aboutsomeone else.

BRUCEI know.

Bruce SIPS his coffee.

ALFREDHow do you know hell be willing?

BRUCEI dont. But I have to try.

ALFREDI dont like this.


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BRUCERead this.

Bruce POINTS

Documents

Untitled BM Project, 2010